WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A powerful panel

reviewing Nippon Steel's ( NISTF ) $14.9 billion bid for U.S.

Steel has referred a decision on the proposed tie up to the

White House, two people familiar with the matter said on Monday

night.

The referral by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the

United States, which reviews foreign investments in the U.S. for

national security risk, sets the stage for U.S. President Joe

Biden, who has long oppose the deal, to block it.